Letters to the Editor - Nov. 12, 2012

Monday

Nov 12, 2012 at 3:15 AM

Name change

To the editor: The name of your newspaper includes the word Democrat with a capital D. However, your views, and for the most part, your political endorsements favor the right-wing and Republican agendas and candidates. If you believe that a local newspaper should mirror the attitudes and beliefs of the communities it serves don’t you think it’s time for you to reassess your political position or rename your publication?

Derek Wood

Dover

You get what

you deserve!

To the editor: Well, the takers and layabouts won over! They are the 47% Romney talked about that are victims and not responsible citizens. They don’t pay taxes and always have their handout. It’s called Obama money, food stamps, welfare checks, heat assistance, cash for clunkers, foreclosure victims, GM, free birth control, redistributing tax payer money, assistance for paying down mortgages, and they never have to have personal responsibility. What are you victims going to do when we the tax payers stop sending our money to the federal government? Our money wont be there for you! Obama is also responsible for your plight because he feeds into it. How does it feel to be a parasite? If enough tax paying people stop sending their hard earned money to Washington, maybe the Politicians will get wise and make you work for the money you receive.

And to those lefties in Durham who have nothing better to do than write to this newspaper, I say watch your 401-ks go down the toilet and your retirement money slip away in the market, all because your too blind to see the truth about this socialist you helped elect. Remember, millionaires and billionaires will not finance your pitiful lives. How do you think they got where they are, waiting for the Obama money!

Albert Johnston

Dover

Thank you

To the editor: On behalf of the Kittery Recreation Department, I would like to thank everyone who attended our 11th Annual Community Halloween Celebration, on Saturday, Oct. 27. The weather on Saturday was absolutely stunning! The crowd of well over 400 people enjoyed an afternoon of games, pumpkin carving, inflatables, food, hay rides, and the ever popular Costume Contest.

The event was a huge success due mostly to the involvement of our great community, civic organizations, and businesses.

The following civic groups were on hand to set up game booths for the hundreds of children to enjoy at no cost: Kittery Lions Club, Kittery Rotary Club, Seacoast Kiwanis Club and Kittery Travel Basketball.

The following local businesses and groups also made the day possible with their generous donations and sponsorship: JSN Associates Engineers, Kennebunk Savings, Ovington’s Produce, The Kittery Outlet Association, and Pelkey Funeral Services.

In addition to the groups and businesses participation, the day would not have gone so well without the help from many others who donated their time, effort, and supplies. A huge thanks to the Kittery Recreation Staff and the members of our SAFE Afterschool and Preschool Program staff who helped make the day go so smoothly.

Again, on behalf of the Kittery Recreation Department, I would like to thank all those who made our 11th Annual Halloween Celebration the most successful yet and we look forward to another great event next year.

Jeremy Paul

Assistant Director

Kittery

Whoop-de-doo!

To the editor: Not long ago the federal government brought suit for damages against Bank of America based on a claim that the bank and Countrywide Mortgage had deliberately misrepresented the value of real estate mortgages which were being sold to the federally guaranteed Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac.

There are similar suits or settlements announced on an almost weekly basis — against drug companies for overcharging, against BAE for bribing foreign government officials, against British Petroleum for mishandling the construction of the offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico.

To all of this we should say a big “Whoop-de-doo!”

Stop and think. Who actually pays for all of this? The answer is that we do. You and me. Not Bank of America, not BAE, not BP. We pay, as consumers who buy BP gas; taxpayers who pay for the military contracts to BAE; depositors and borrowers who pay bank fees and mortgage interest. A corporation doesn’t have money except what it gets from sales of goods or services or from issuing stock. That means that the money a company uses to pay these million dollar settlements comes from the people who buy its products or invest their earnings or pensions in company securities. In the case of BAE this money would have been used not only to pay the fine but also the bribes that were paid. With the drug companies we paid the fines and also the inflated prices for the products.

It’s all part of the cost of doing business. None of the money comes from the pockets of the executives or administrators who made the decisions to pay the bribes, or ignore the safety regulations on the construction site. And to add insult to injury, in most if not all of these cases the money paid for fines or penalties becomes a “business expense” that would qualify as a deduction or credit against the corporation’s taxes.

So when you read about any more of these massive settlements, keep this in mind: it may be described as a “windfall” to the US Treasury, but remember who is paying for it.

Anthony McManus

Dover

Kindness

To the editor: Human kindness still exists! On Saturday, November 3rd a stranger stopped his truck in the middle of Sixth St. because a small terrier was in the road. The man got out of his truck and came into our yard, I’m assuming because the other dogs were barking and he deduced that maybe the little one belonged there. He was correct. Devin, our youngest dog had found the one hole in the fence left by “Sandy” and wandered into the road. The man did everything right! He didn’t try to catch or chase and Devin followed him right to our fence. When I went out to see why the other dogs were barking, I found the man in my front yard pointing down at Dev and asking “is he yours?” I scooped up my dog, thanked the man profusely, introduced my little mutt and went into the house. As I watched him start his truck and pull up the road, I noticed a long line of traffic that he had held up in his attempt to save my dog. I wish I knew who he was and could repay his act of kindness. My husband and I have helped several lost dogs find their way home, but I never thought someone would do it for us. Whoever you are, I hope you read Fosters and see this letter. We are forever grateful for your decision to help.

Denise and Todd Corley and the D Dogs

Dover

Two culprits

To the editor: We recently discussed a couple of major problems regarding the state of U.S. health care. We determined that health care is national security and America is not healthy. Please draw the logical conclusion. We also determined that health care reform is an economic imperative since 17% of our GDP (approximately $16 trillion) is being devoured by health care, with low marks, which doesn’t bode well for our economy.

The next step is to identify the major root causes of the said major problems. I have selected what I believe are the two largest: health insurance companies and lifestyle related diseases.

The party doing the least complaining throughout the long health care debate was the health insurance industry. I would wager that not one of the chunky guys, adorned in Colonial garb, rudely disrupting town hall meetings across the country, was a health insurance company CEO.

The primary role of government, as prescribed by the Constitution, is to protect its citizenry and to foster the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We are not promised or owed ownership of homes or automobiles; hence, insurance required. We are NOT commodities but ARE promised the inalienable rights. We are all born, and unless lucky, all die; and get sick and injured in between. Health insurance is a contrived, false argument as it does nothing to prevent or cure injury or illness and there is no associated IF. The roles of health insurers are simply to negotiate the maze they create and to make handsome profits for shareholders.

If we expect Government to do its job, then we need to be personally and socially responsible citizens. It has been reasonably suggested that 70% of that 17% of GDP (approximately $2.5 trillion) for health care expenditures can be attributed to preventable lifestyle diseases resulting from use of tobacco, alcohol, fast food and sugar. The good citizens (suppliers and demanders) taking full advantage of these freedoms must be made responsible, socially and personally, when it comes to health care reform.

Next up: proposition to harness the resources from the two culprits (health insurance industry and lifestyle disease) for true health care reform.

Wayne H. Merritt

Dover

In danger

To the editor: Newmarket Principal Chris Andriski recently informed the Exeter Newsletter: “…if a fire right now happened in our building, the fire would go right up the stairwell and the kids would never be able to get out” and that the school is “outdated, terrible, and inadequate.”

Focusing just on the “kids would never be able to get out” if there was a fire in the building, as assessed by the building principal; approximately 225 students would perish if a fire occurred today.

Based solely upon the assessment and warning by Andriski, allowing classes to continue in this situation is endangering the safety of every student in that building, and that is reckless and against the law.

And it would also be fair to conclude, given this dire warning, that every parent who allows their child to enter that school building is in fact, knowingly endangering the safety of their child, and that is also reckless and against the law.

As for Andriski’s further comments that the school is “outdated, terrible, and inadequate” I will remain silent; parents of students enrolled in the school and local taxpayers need time digest these remarks and determine if their money is being wasted, considering the district pays nearly $16 million per year to educate their students.

Jeffrey Thomas Clay

Alton

Safe, happier

To the editor: Now that the frenzy of the election has passed by and our politicians don’t have to think of campaigning for at least six months, (It does seem to go on 24/7, doesn’t it?) perhaps something can be done on the legislative level to make our country safer and happier.

As wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, I would, of course, like to rid our culture of its “guns for everyone” mentality. Perhaps we could start right here in little, old New Hampshire. The biggies pay so much attention to us in a presidential year, could they perhaps pay attention in this coming off-year to the proliferation of guns and the consequences of those guns. Perhaps we could start with the most abominable and questionable: assault weapons. They are designed and manufactured for no purpose other than to kill human beings.

Is there any evidence of a person defending his home and family with an assault rifle? Is there any evidence of a hunter taking down a deer or a moose with an assault weapon? That would be considered unsportsmanlike. Yet these weapons seem to be used more and more to take down men, women and children — innocents in most cases with no real connection between murderer and victims.

Verdenal Johnson

Dover

Solutions

To the editor: Now that the elections are over, it is my hope that our newly elected and re-elected state and federal representatives will waste no time in focusing on the issues of concern to older Mainers and their families. Issues such as financial and health security are of paramount importance to many of our older residents. The next Congress will be making decisions about the future of Social Security and Medicare. There are many options likely to be considered in 2013 that will have an effect on the long-term solvency of both of these programs. Now the work truly begins and I am looking forward to hearing how campaign promises will turn into meaningful action.

Here in Maine, the 126th legislature will need to find ways to balance the state budget without cutting programs that are so important to some of our most at-risk residents. As we head into the coldest months of the year, the challenges for older Mainers will undoubtedly grow. We need to protect our long-term care services and supports and strengthen consumer protections so Mainers can stay in their own homes and communities as they age.

I hope our representatives will reach across the aisle and work together to find solutions that make sense now and for the future. I encourage all Mainers to play an active role in watching how things unfold in the months and years ahead and making sure their voices are heard throughout.

Meredith Tipton

AARP Executive Council

South Portland, Maine

It’s time

To the editor: Today’s (Nov. 8, Thursday) editorial hinted that the US Congress and the president needed to work together to solve our serious ‘Fiscal Cliff’ problem. The election being over, it is indeed time to redirect all efforts away from partisan politics and do what is right for the country - not our parties.

The people of the nation chose Barack Obama and the people of New Hampshire’s first Congressional District chose Carol Shea-Porter and the people of New Hampshire chose Maggie Hassan for Governor. Please respect our choices.

Your selection of photos for the all female New Hampshire delegation was definitely unflattering for Maggie Hassan and Annie Kuster. But the photo you selected for Carol Shea-Porter was beyond disrespectful. Shame! It does however your misogynistic treatment of her in your editorials slandering her. Double shame! An apology is in order to Carol and to the people of US District One.

Hiram Connell

Somersworth

A good day,

a great day

To the editor: Standing in the cold holding campaign signs in front of the Dover’s Ward 2 poll was both enlightening and encouraging. Tuesday was a historic day with record turnout for this location. As day yielded to night, in near freezing temperatures, voters kept coming, waiting patiently in a line that needed to wrap the corner of the block to accommodate its length. Unfortunately, they kept coming long after the poll closed. Democracy in Dover was running full tilt Tuesday.

I hasten to add that these reflections are utterly unscientific. I feel compelled to point this out as the “from away” Republican sign holders at the poll informed me that utterances made on talk radio, and I assume by extension that this applies to newspaper opinion pieces, are indisputable facts while actual disciplined research is always a government con.

So many came. They walked, they used walkers, and wheelchairs, but they kept coming. The faces in line were mostly sober. Many had the look of people who came to do something they thought was important for themselves, their children, their neighbors, and their country. In contrast, there were a number of middle age males with a hint of anger in their faces, voting midday and perhaps out of work. It was easy to assume they came to vote not for, but against, something.

And the women came. They came with their kids, with their dogs, with their dads, their friends, and their partners. They came with gray hair and green. They were the predominate poll worker gender. They sold cookies and coffee at the door. They held signs. This seems to have been an unusually important election for women. We should not be surprised that we are now a state led by women.

And new voters came. They were mostly young, but not exclusively so. They came in such numbers that the moderator, a woman, established a separate line that appeared to hold a hundred souls at times. So many in this line were women.

And they voted early. Those of us wanting to hear early results had a long wait as hundreds of absentee ballots remained to be opened and counted. I wonder how many were women.

When we were finally free to leave for a drink with campaign workers, it was not surprising that most of those gathered were women.

To everyone, especially the women, who did so much to make a difference on Tuesday, I salute you.